Published: Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 12, 2013 at 3:40 p.m.

Work is continuing on the city of Ocala's project to spruce up the downtown square.

"It's going to be finished Oct. 1 in time for FAFO," said Elizabeth Houck, the city's landscape architect and the project manager.

FAFO stands for the Fine Arts For Ocala art show, which is moving back downtown this year after being held in other locations for several years.

"It looks worse than it is," Houck said about the renovation project, which started in mid-June and is about 50 percent complete. "It's moving along now that we have some of the conduits in the ground."

Among the amenities being provided are a permanent stage attached to the gazebo, which will include a handicap accessibility ramp. Electrical upgrades also are part of the package.

"We are adding some seat walls with vendor power and ambient lighting," Houck said.

Among the additions will be a way-finding kiosk, where visitors can obtain information to help guide them around the area.

Included in the work is a resurfacing of the star pattern on the plaza because it was slippery when wet and needed constant repainting; installation of a number of electric bollards (short, vertical posts) to replace old ones that were no longer working; and a re-grading of the area to smooth out the uneven spots, which will include the placement of new sod.

No changes are planned for the trees in the plaza.

Parking has been blocked off on the south side of the square.

"The sidewalks are open, except for the one on the south by the parking," Houck said.

Two Ocala companies are doing the work. Slack Construction is the contractor. Architecture Studio, Inc. is the architect. The cost of the project is $195,000.

The city chose to do the work during the summer months when business tends to be slower for the merchants in hopes of causing less disruption. And, added Houck, "The snowbirds are gone."

Businesses around the square seem to be holding their own during the construction.

<p>Work is continuing on the city of Ocala's project to spruce up the downtown square.</p><p>"It's going to be finished Oct. 1 in time for FAFO," said Elizabeth Houck, the city's landscape architect and the project manager.</p><p>FAFO stands for the Fine Arts For Ocala art show, which is moving back downtown this year after being held in other locations for several years.</p><p>"It looks worse than it is," Houck said about the renovation project, which started in mid-June and is about 50 percent complete. "It's moving along now that we have some of the conduits in the ground."</p><p>Among the amenities being provided are a permanent stage attached to the gazebo, which will include a handicap accessibility ramp. Electrical upgrades also are part of the package.</p><p>"We are adding some seat walls with vendor power and ambient lighting," Houck said.</p><p>Among the additions will be a way-finding kiosk, where visitors can obtain information to help guide them around the area.</p><p>Included in the work is a resurfacing of the star pattern on the plaza because it was slippery when wet and needed constant repainting; installation of a number of electric bollards (short, vertical posts) to replace old ones that were no longer working; and a re-grading of the area to smooth out the uneven spots, which will include the placement of new sod.</p><p>No changes are planned for the trees in the plaza.</p><p>Parking has been blocked off on the south side of the square.</p><p>"The sidewalks are open, except for the one on the south by the parking," Houck said.</p><p>Two Ocala companies are doing the work. Slack Construction is the contractor. Architecture Studio, Inc. is the architect. The cost of the project is $195,000.</p><p>The city chose to do the work during the summer months when business tends to be slower for the merchants in hopes of causing less disruption. And, added Houck, "The snowbirds are gone."</p><p>Businesses around the square seem to be holding their own during the construction.</p><p>"To be honest, I don't think its affected us too much," said Sean Peets, manager of Harry's Seafood Bar & Grill.</p><p>Harry's is on Broadway Street just south of the square.</p><p>At Shannon Roth Collection on the west side of the square, business is a little slow, but manager Maggie Huckabee is not blaming that on the construction.</p><p>"In general, I can tell you July is generally slow," Huckabee said.</p><p>The only concern Huckabee has is there are fewer parking places for customers because work trucks are parked in a number of them.</p><p>"We have had some complaints about that," she said.</p><p>She also said they have some older customers who find it difficult to walk long distances. Even so, Huckabee is happy the city is having the work done at this time of year.</p><p>"It was smart of them to do it that way," she said.</p><p>"We hope it will come along on deadline as they promised — in September — and that would be fantastic," she said. "We are looking forward to the unveiling. It sounds like it's going to be very nice."</p><p><i>Contact Susan Latham Carr at 867-4156 or susan.carr@starbanner.com.</i></p>